I LOVE CHANDLER, ARIZONA

I am the luckiest man on the face of the earth! OK....I stole the quote from the great Lou Gehrig. Chandler Arizona is everything I hoped for and more. The house is beautiful, the weather totally beats NY winter, the shopping is great, the golf courses are beautiful (although I haven't had time to play yet), the bowling centers are surrounding me within 2-3 miles each direction (although I have been avoiding them), casinos are plentiful (no, I don't go every night.....in fact we've only been to Harrahs Ak-Chin one time).....and if we don't feel like cooking, we could go to restaurants every night of the year for at least two years without repeating restaurants.I miss my shop, and my fellow bowlers......and of course Dylan, Logan and Bella (although Grandpa Gary will probably, God-willing, be around a lot longer without NY winters and climate.)
My darling Marti has been keeping the world informed on Facebook, with comments and pics of the beginnings of our new life together. As I have said before, I truly wish we could have a "Kennedy compound" here in the East Valley and have our whole family here! Lets see......Liz and Scott running, BestBuy western USA, Marisa a full professor at ASU, Craig head foreman for DirectTV, Jeanine doing whatever she wants as she enjoys our grandchildren.....Jeffrey setting up roots here between his world travels......and, of course, our Lora is here, already. Ah......what is life if you can't dream!
Marti has helped make most of my dreams come true.......and as much as I loved her in NY.....I love her even more....HERE!

Its really happening!!!!!

Yes, its true......we found a beautiful house in Chandler, AZ. Yes, its true.....we are really moving out west!!!! We are driving there....leaving on Valentine's Day and getting there 3 days later. We plan on getting things in order so that we can move in early April. I love the colors of the southwest.....combining Native American with Mexican culture. I can't wait to help decorate our new home.

Finding out whats going on

I guess its not all about me.......but at this point I am being very selfish......and making it all about me. I am going to a cardiologist tomorrow, trying to figure out what is going on with my body. I have not felt well since cancer struck me in 2004. Yes, the surgery was successful........yes, the chemo worked......yes, I married my sweetheart.....yes, I had one daughter marry her best friend.....yes, I have a daughter who has been successful in education, working and guiding others and being successful in my first union...802.....yes, I have a stepdaughter who will never be a stepdaughter.......she is a very determined, courageous woman who is not afraid to be who she is!........2 step sons who will never be stepsons.....both as different as night and day, but both searching for their rainbow.........my stepdaughter who will never be a stepdaughter.....who is the mother of 3 of the greatest grandchildren a person could ask for!

...Yes......I make it all about me. I am scared of what I don't know........ a doctor I don't know........feeling that at almost 63, how vulnerable I really am....... a desire to be out of a 2 room mess into a home with the woman I love.......feeling heat rather than cold.....an oasis where all of our kids can stay and hang out......cooking in a real kitchen on a real stove and a real barbecue. I want to grow old with Marti........watch our kids sort out their lives and be who and what they want to be.......watch our grandchildren grow and flourish.

.....Yes.....I make it all about me. I am scared!

No Gloom and Doom

As I re-read my blog, I realize that no matter how much appears to be changing, nothing changes! I'm such a "Drama KING".....lol

So, I bowled last night......... 289, 255, 258.........802. Just so happened to be the highest series I have bowled in 32 years.......thats right, I said 32 years!
Went to the doctor today......blood pressure is perfect......no weird crap happening.
Practiced this afternoon......a continuation of last night......as I said to my friends last night.......I'm just going to enjoy the ride!

Discoveries if a cancer survivor

As I get to know other cancer survivors, we discover that we share other thoughts beside survival.When we get a belly ache, its cancer of the small intestine, cough and a cold, lung cancer, gas pains under and around your heart, coronary artery disease.It is a vicious cycle that disallowed me to hold my 4 day old grandaughter because I was afraid I would lose my balance and drop her (she is such a little peanut.....all I want to do is hold her.And hold her I will because most of my symptoms are exaggerated just making me weak.

I may not even bowl tomorrow night if I feel like I did all weekend. On a positive note, I ate food each of he past 4 days. I will get my appetite back. I really want to move to Arizona healthy.....not 3 months and dirtnap. I want to live at least another 30 years and negotiate from there 1 year contracts with options to renew.Marti and I deserve the happiness young love promises.
So I'm making an appointment with the recommended cardiologist to go ove tmy EKG and eCHO AND carotid artery and plan our attack. We'll just have to see which treatment will give me my energy back.

Whats happening in your shop?

Its been a rather early start to the holiday season at deer park. Lots of walk ins pricing everything from resin bags to HR professional 4 to 6 ball bags, newest bowling balls to closeout of last year's weapons.Selling between 2 and4 balls daily 3 cases a week. Some lessons scheduled with the Deer Park HS and the North Babylon HS and 1 with Copiague. Bowling on Mondays in East Islip, arguably, the highest scoring house in Long Island/Been dizzy a lot, chest pains of a minor non threatening manner. Got to step away from the fear and put it in a locked box,........I want to win a banner in the region and the national tour.That is my goal for the upcoming season.Those who know me, can figure out why this year.Of course at this age (62), its logical that I do not have a whole lot of time to become a major force on tour.....so its one shot at a time,matching up with the best equipment (in my case Track, Columbia, Ebonite and Hammer) As long as I can breathe and walk and repeat shots, I'll play what is there. I also intend to renew friendships, really hanging out with my fellow competitors, discussing bowling, equipment, and what golf clubs seem to work best in windy conditions.....lol.Either way, see all of you in
April in
Dayton. Staying at the Studio6 if its still there......great prices,quiet place and super clean! Speak to y'all after the cardiologists office next Tuesday. Enjoy the weekend ......stay warm.
Gary

Sometimes, you got to step back and take in the beauty

I know that its been over a month since my last entry.......its been a month that included Atlantic City a few times, 2 bowling disappointing tournaments, "Midnight Madness" shopping Thanksgiving Night out in Riverhead at the Tanger Outlets (it was a blast), taking medication and worrying over every heart beat and uncomfortable feeling near my heart after eating. Going to see a cardiologist on Monday in order to get on the road to clearing up what is and putting to rest what isn't. I have been very worried, unable to eat at the hours we are accustomed and scared that I have some serious work ahead of me, Thank God I stopped smoking 3 years ago.......I can't imagine how bad this would be!

If all my tests come out okay, or I need an angioplasty, we will plan to go to Phoenix around January 12-January 21 to look for our dream home in the desert of the sun. Naturally, if I need bypass surgery, the trip and purchase will be delayed until I finish rehabbing.......we'll just have to see.

My customers are doing well with the equipment i have chosen for them along with the first lesson thats included in their purchase. 2 different bowlers of mine shot 2 300s and 1 300 respectively.......Great publicity for the shop!

My game is still coming around, using primarily Ebocoltracker equipment.
especially love the Track 715A and 505A, the Columbia 300 Full Swing and Bedlam and Freeze and the Ebonite Magic series and the Evolve. It seems that Track and Ebonite respond best to my limited rev rate and lower speed.Great stuff coming out of Hopkinsville.........thanks Mr. Gallagher, Mr.Figliomieni, Mr. Murphy and Mr. Ussery. You guys along with your r and d staff, chemists, pourers.....you are all doing a great job and getting the product out there. Its an easy sell at all price points: something good for everyone!

Getting a bit tired.....its almost 3:30 AM........will blog later next week.
Thanks and love to all!